Life Transitions
&
Quarter-Life Crisis Therapy
Carly Stanton, LPC, MT-BC
For 13+ years, I've helped people navigate some of life's biggest changes. One of the things I'm most passionate about helping people understand is this: you're not weak, and you're not crazy.
Change is so much harder than most of us realize, even when it's something we've wanted for a long time.
Decades of research have shown that major life changes are among the most stressful experiences we'll ever go through, whether they're planned or completely unexpected.
One of the things people often find most surprising is that even positive changes can be incredibly stressful. You can be excited about getting married, having a baby, starting a new job, moving somewhere new, or finally getting something you've wanted for years and still find yourself feeling anxious, overwhelmed, sad, scared, or completely thrown off.
Whether you're navigating a quarter-life crisis, questioning what's next, or adjusting to a major life change, you don't have to figure it all out alone.
Nothing is wrong with you. You're human. We just aren't wired to cope well with change.
You’re in the Right Place If...
Life transitions have a way of bringing up every emotion at once.
You can feel excited and terrified. Relieved and heartbroken. Confident one moment and full of doubt the next. That doesn't mean you're making the wrong decision. It means you're going through one of the biggest changes a person can experience.
Life Transitions Bring Up So Much
You might recognize yourself in some of these experiences:
Wondering if everyone else got the handbook for adulthood except you.
Wondering, “Am I making the right decision?”
Feeling guilty for struggling with a positive change.
Feeling stuck between who you were and who you're becoming.
Constantly comparing your timeline to everyone else's.
Therapy with me isn't about
having all the answers.
Big changes have a way of making us question everything, especially ourselves.
My job isn't to tell you what decision to make. It's to help you quiet the noise, better understand yourself, and build confidence in whatever path feels most aligned with your values.
My hope is that you leave therapy trusting yourself more than when you walked in.
Therapeutic Techniques I Use
My approach to therapy blends evidence-based practices tailored to your unique needs. Some sessions may focus more on processing what this transition has brought up, while others may be more practical and focused on what comes next. Together, we'll figure out what actually helps and adjust as we go.
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Helps you make room for uncertainty and difficult emotions while staying connected to your values and what matters to you.
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Helps us understand how past experiences and relationships may be shaping the way you approach change, decisions, and relationships today.
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Can help when change leaves you feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally activated, giving you tools to respond with more intention.
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Helps create some space between what you're feeling and how you choose to respond.
How My Therapy
Helps You
Move Through Change
My clients report:
They feel lighter.
They trust themselves more.
They make decisions with more confidence and clarity.
They feel more comfortable being themselves.
They're less apologetic and less focused on pleasing everyone else.
They handle life's uncertainty with more confidence.
They feel more present, joyful, and connected to what matters most.
They finally have the space to enjoy the life they're building.
Life doesn't stop changing. But it stops feeling like you're facing it alone.
About Carly Stanton,
LPC, MT-BC
Hi, I'm Carly!
Over the past decade, I've helped people navigate some of life's biggest changes, from breakups and career shifts to becoming parents, moving across the world, and everything in between.
One of the reasons I love this work is because I know how easy it is to believe everyone else has the answers. I think one of the coolest things that happens in therapy is realizing you had them all along. My job isn't to tell you what to do. It's to help you quiet all the noise, trust yourself again, and move forward with more confidence and clarity.
I'd be honored to help you navigate whatever comes next.
Outside of Therapy
Outside of therapy, you'll usually find me hanging out with my two cats, Moo Moo and Magnum, playing board games or video games. When my vertigo decides to cooperate, I love scuba diving in the Pacific Ocean. One of my favorite parts of living in Costa Rica is waking up to the sound of the howler monkeys outside my home and watching the mama monkeys with their babies hanging onto them as they move through the trees. I'm also a huge fan of improv comedy and am still hoping to find, or maybe even start, a group here in Costa Rica.
Education, Credentials, & Trainings
Master's Degree in Music Therapy
Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
Board-Certified Music Therapist (MT-BC)
13+ years of experience across inpatient psychiatry,
crisis intervention, PHP, IOP, outpatient therapy,
group therapy, and private practice.
Therapy FAQs
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Honestly, this is one of my favorite reasons for someone to come to therapy.
Sometimes nothing is obviously "wrong." There hasn't been a major trauma or crisis. You just don't quite feel like yourself anymore. Those feelings can linger for months or even years because they don't seem urgent enough to ask for help.
You don't have to wait until things get worse. Sometimes we just need a space to slow down, make sense of what's happening, and figure out what your mind or body has been trying to tell you all along.
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Absolutely. In fact, it's one of the biggest misconceptions about life transitions. Even when it's something you've wanted for years or are genuinely excited about, it's completely normal for it to bring up anxiety, sadness, doubt, grief, or even moments of wondering if you made the right decision.
Nothing is wrong with you. Decades of research have shown that change is one of the most stressful things we experience as humans, even when it's positive. You don't have to choose between feeling excited and feeling overwhelmed. It's completely normal to feel both at the same time.
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Absolutely. One of my biggest hopes for my clients is that they leave therapy feeling more confident in themselves and their ability to make decisions.
My goal isn't to tell you what to do. It's to help you better understand yourself, trust your instincts, and make decisions that feel aligned with your values instead of fear, self-doubt, or what everyone else thinks you should do.
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Not at all. In fact, many people come to therapy long before they're in crisis. Maybe something feels different. Maybe you're questioning what's next, feeling restless, or sensing that something in your life isn't fitting anymore.
You don't have to wait until things fall apart to reach out. Sometimes therapy isn't about getting through a crisis. It's about making sense of where you are, getting clear on what you want, and creating a life that feels more like your own.
Get Started in 4 Steps
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Fill out the free consultation form and tell me a little about what’s bringing you to therapy. I’ll get back to you within one business day to schedule a time to talk.
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This is a chance for us to get to know each other. You can ask any questions you have, tell me a little about what’s been going on, and together we’ll see if we’re a good fit.
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If we decide to work together, we’ll schedule your first full session. We’ll spend some time getting to know your background, what shaped you, and what’s bringing you to therapy now. From there, we’ll figure out what you want to work on together.
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From there, every session looks a little different because every week of life is different. Sometimes we’ll process what’s happening right now. Other times we’ll explore patterns that have been with you for years, make sense of experiences that still affect you today, or work toward new goals. We’ll keep building on what we learn together.
You Don’t Have To Do This Alone Anymore
If any of this resonated with you, I'd love to connect.